setting up a local server/localhost

[CanadianJohn]

I'm writing a program in PHP/MySQL, and want it to work even when there is no wi-fi. To do this, I need to set up a laptop (or a flash drive) as a portable web server.

This, apparently, is easy. There are lots of online instructions.

However, I can't make it work. I've tried both WAMP and XAMPP. So, I google "why can't I do it" and get a million responses, with technical writers saying it's easy (followed by 20 pages of gobbledegook), and about TWO million people saying "I can't do it either".

I don't know any programmers personally, so I can't twist any arms. I found a couple of freelance programmers who said they could do it, but when I asked them for a price, one made excuses, and the other didn't reply.

Anyone here have any advice?

Well you are asking the wrong people - you don't want a programmer you want a networking person. See if you know a network technician.

If I wanted that done I would go ask this guy - look for someone like him
www.google.co.uk/search?q=computers%20prestwick&oq=computers+prestwick&aqs=chrome..69i57.10863j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&npsic=0&rflfq=1&rlha=0&rllag=55499183,-4614292,369&tbm=lcl&rldimm=5805885642321284487&ved=0ahUKEwi9k_W8vtrWAhXIKsAKHZzgCeoQvS4IPzAA&rldoc=1&tbs=lrf:!2m4!1e17!4m2!17m1!1e2!2m1!1e3!3sIAE,lf:1,lf_ui:2#rlfi=hd:;si:5805885642321284487;mv:!1m3!1d16570.49546164533!2d-4.60700195!3d55.504267250000005!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i141!2i352!4f13.1;tbs:lrf:!2m1!1e3!2m4!1e17!4m2!17m1!1e2!3sIAE,lf:1,lf_ui:2

So are you getting the WAMP stack up and running at all?

GrockleBocs this is where I am at...
Let's start with WAMP

I installed the 32 bit version, trying to access it on my (old) desktop with Windows 7

"start all services" turns the icon yellow so only 1 service is running
Clicking..
...Localhost returns "this page cannot be displayed"
...PHP MyAdmin returns "this page cannot be displayed"
...www directory brings a folder
...Apache seems to be running (though I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with it)
...PHP may be running, clicking the link brings a list of settings, etc
...MySQL -> MySQL consol retuns a DOS window, asking for the password(??)

Very frustrating. If you have any thoughts I'd be very grateful

I think I've had similar. It's been a long time since I did this. Apache is the equivalent of IIS so you'll need to configure it to use the directory you've put your php files in. Then you'll need to create a db in MySQL and configure php to use that.

Thanks for your comments; I couldn't make WAMP work, but XAMPP may be working. Croos your fingers.

Also check your port, it uses 8888 by default but sometimes apps like Skype are already using it.